TRENTON, NJ, May 7, 2025—New Jersey’s gubernatorial race spotlighted safe and sustainable transportation infrastructure last Wednesday as candidates Steve Sweeney, Steve Fulop, and Sean Spiller joined an online forum to discuss critical issues shaping how New Jerseyans walk, bike, and ride across the Garden State.

The New Jersey Gubernatorial Candidates Forum, Walk, Bike, Ride NJ, was hosted by New Jersey Future (NJF) in partnership with Tri-State Transportation Campaign, NJ Bike & Walk Coalition, East Coast Greenway Alliance, The Circuit Trails, and Trust for Public Land. All gubernatorial candidates were invited to participate in this forum. Meishka Mitchell, president and CEO of Emerald Cities Collaborative and chair of NJF’s board of trustees, moderated the conversation.

The candidates tackled urgent challenges achieving safe, accessible infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders. As communities seek better walkability, bicycle infrastructure, and reliable transit options in an era of uncertain state and federal funding, the stakes for New Jersey’s transportation network could not be higher.

“The best way to reduce congestion is investing in NJ Transit,” said Sean Spiller, former Montclair Mayor, emphasizing the need to modernize and expand transit networks. “We need space to create safe, dedicated bike lanes,” he added, linking mobility to climate action. “New Jersey absolutely needs to be a leader in the fight against climate change,” said Spiller, who argued that transportation reform should be part of a larger push toward a green economy and upgraded electrical grid.

Steve Sweeney, former Senate President, pushed for regional solutions and long-term investment in transit equity. “South Jersey desperately needs mass transportation,” he asserted. “New Jersey Transit’s been starved of funding… it goes back a couple of decades.” Sweeney also called for a statewide trails strategy and highlighted how micromobility—like e-scooters and bikes—can expand access for working-class residents. “Electric scooters and bikes are much more reachable for people who are financially challenged,” he said.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop stressed the importance of shifting transportation culture and reimagining how streets are shared. “Roads are not only for cars,” he said. “We need to have the mentality about moving people via pedestrians, via mass transit, and via bikes.” Fulop tied these priorities to a broader vision of complete streets and emphasized the need for “a conscious investment in mass transit.”

South Orange Village President and Fulop’s running mate, Sheena Collum, added a community-based lens to the conversation, urging the state to prioritize safety and equity. “This is not only about equity as it deals with lower-income residents… but also an age-friendly agenda and the needs of senior citizens.” Collum was unsparing in her critique of the current transit system. “New Jersey Transit is such a disaster,” she said. “It needs to be fixed once and for all.”

Despite their differences, all three candidates shared a similar vision for trail development and public transit funding in the Garden State. When asked if their administration would support a statewide trail network, all three candidates embraced the concept. They offered different responses to how it could be funded. Spiller discussed reforming the tax code to unlock additional money for trail development, while Fulop suggested shifting state funding for highways to trail planning and construction. When asked about their plans to improve funding for NJ Transit, none of the candidates hesitated to express their support for the new corporate transit fee (also referred to by its predecessor, the former corporate business tax) to fund the agency. Collum went even further, affirming that the Fulop administration would dedicate the corporate transit fee in perpetuity to NJ Transit.

With just over a month to go before voters head to the polls for the primary, last Wednesday’s forum highlighted how the next governor’s transportation agenda could shape not just how people get around, but how New Jersey combats climate change, promotes equity, and drives economic growth.